WE ARE BACK TO LODESTAR If you're reading this, likely you are too!

By Julie Leigh Domeny

​Lodestar: Regardless of who you were and how you got there… most remember Lodestar’s deepest truths. Won’t you join us to remember, renew, and rejoice?

So, it seems to have originally been Cami Trueheart’s idea; “A reunion seems so apt, fitting, and long overdue!” she had said for years. I had always said, “yes” to her knowing I had attended and would like to explore those memories because for me they involved my long-lost former neighbor, Sue Greenwood. I was not the only one Cam spoke to about this, for after the 2017 death of Douglas Saunders, the sentiments of Lodestar campers resonated, “Yes, long overdue!”

How is this going to happen? Your ‘Back to Lodestar’ Committee unfolds.

Something had taken hold. It would happen! Peter Matthews Livingston, son of camp directors, Peter and Ruth Livingston, took on a lead organizational role despite being in the process of learning a demanding new skill. Like Cami and Peter, Andrea Blum, the daughter of camp director, Janetta Blum, had always longed for ways to revisit the magic of Lodestar. Peter and Cami rounded up a few more committee members. Tracy Mikkelson, Peggy O’Connell, both part of the kitchen crew with Cam, Victoria Wells Larson, Lynne Richell Spickard. Poor Peter, we need more male energy! Robert Stetson - Bobo! Bobo rounded up Tom Trutner, who signed on after our first meeting! And me, I'm Julie Leigh Domeny.

At 12 & 13 years old, I attended Lodestar before the heyday of most Piedmont campers’ teenage Lodestar experiences, yet, what I can share is that Lodestar and all it stood for came at a time when I really, really needed it. And, what I came to learn when the reunion committee actually met at Lodestar in Wilseyville on February 28th, was that a lot of people were really, really benefited by it!

Now mind you, Wilseyville is at elevation 3,000’ and the weekend before that Monday retreat had been wintery, blustery, and unstable. Although Lodestar camp manager, Jeff offered early arrival – only Peter committed to arriving the night before. The rest of us prayed the snow would be turning to rain by Monday afternoon, and we wouldn’t need chains, we would arrive accordingly and get whatever preliminary planning done. It did. While it was cold and patches of snow abounded, the roads were clear!

We arrived to Peter’s masterful orchestration of supplies, and perks. A binder! Copies of strategic handouts! Sticky notes, large and small! He had thought this through! After a short introduction and receiving an over-the-top adorable handmade trinket from Tracy, we learned how many needed to sign up by when to meet budgeting goals; suggested committee structure; how we might communicate going forward while being geographically distant. Logical committee leaders sprang forth: Peggy – food; Cam and Tracy program; Marketing – Bobo. Vicki and Lynne will help Peter develop a website. Everyone would track down former campers. All of us would jump in wherever needed.

Conveying all this very important information was interjected with: Do you remember Nurse Jane? Hank? Ted and Necky? Where are they now? How’s Chuck? Can he come? Did you ever see the photo of us from the bus in the meadow? What about the last night when you could kiss and hug whoever you wanted to (I assure you, we didn’t have that when I was there!)? Which cabin did we have? Oh, look, the stage! All while Cami expertly creating a sublime mood with her guitar and singing. Cat herding; Peter realized he was in for it. Too late to rethink this now, Sasquatch. Ready for Plan ‘B’, he declared, “let’s eat; I will make you all special chai tea!”

Everyone contributed to the two meals we enjoyed together: Monday dinner and Tuesday breakfast, before Jeff gave us a camp tour. We saw that some things had changed, but mostly it was the same outside of the dining hall, which had burned down years ago. It was rebuilt to include a modern kitchen and sound system, and seemed it would suit the bill for our Back to Lodestar Reunion events. Knowing our back story, even Jeff seemed to sense he was serving a small part of something profound.

After breakfast and tour, we all knew we had to buckle down. Peter, our leader, had details to finalize. After he cracked a whip to get our attention, Vicki asked for the creative beginnings of a wordscript design for the envisioned website. Graphs were filled in and action items assigned, based on how to deliver the most cost-effective, rewarding, and unmatchable Lodestar reunion experience we all want to be a part of.

I wonder how Sue would see it. I believe she joins me in wanting you to come back to Lodestar! It has been a very long time away and our little committee excitedly anticipates our reunion! Please join the party... it won’t be the same without you! October 12 & 13, 2018.

Why this is important to us testimony:

One of the things I found most striking about our get-together, was how our feelings about Lodestar had such deep overlaps, even though we were different ages, had different backgrounds and backstories, were there at different times, and did different things. That "Lodestar spirit" carried through and was felt by all, so much so that the Lodestar Reunion Band-of-Nine volunteered to take time off and travel far way to spend a night & day with friends and strangers-who-became-friends!
~ Victoria (Vicki) Wells Larson